Air Commodore Aliyu Yishau (retd.), a former Director of Finance and Account of the Nigerian Air Force, on Tuesday, revealed how former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, diverted N558.2m from the account of the Nigerian Air Force on a monthly basis.
Badeh is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on 10 counts of money laundering bordering on alleged fraudulent diversion of about N3.97bn from the Nigerian Air Force’s account.
Yishau testified before the Federal High Court in Abuja, that Badeh diverted N558.2m from the Salary and Emolument Vote account of the Nigerian Air Force throughout the course of his tenure as Chief of Air Staff.
Badeh served as the Chief of Air Staff between October 4, 2012 and January 16, 2014, and subsequently served as the Chief of Defence Staff between January 16, 2014 and July 13, 2015.
While under cross-examination by Badeh’s lead counsel, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), on Tuesday, Yishau the former Finance Director said the N558.2m was usually converted to dollar every month and the dollar was usually handed over to him for onward transmission to Badeh.
“Mine was to give instructions to Command Finance Officer, who was reporting directly to me. Air Chief Marshal Badeh was not exchanging the money personally, but was given the dollar equivalent.”
He further revealed that after Badeh took over as the Chief of Air Staff, he appointed someone to be converting the N558.2m to dollars.
“During the period of Umar, it was Group Captain Bukar, who was involved in exchanging the N550.2m into dollars. Group Captain Bukar is still in service. He was removed from the office, where he was involved in exchanging the currency because he was posted on foreign assignment.”
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